The Loss of Innocence

His opening line is so good, I have nothing else to say:

Bom from The Plant Chaser comments and submits:

I'm no longer a TYAG virgin.

I have to explain that there are hindrances to submitting.  My wife's theory about having more oriental influences in the garden is logical and seems to hold ground in most cases.  Another reason is that land area in the Philippines is very small.  Often less than 100 sq. m. per household owner so there is not a lot of space for a yard much less yard art.  The most major hindrance is security.  The residential areas are divided into subdivisions (gated and guarded) and people are generally not allowed inside a subdivision unless they are a homeowner.  Also, property is divided by concrete/cement walls so that it is rare that you can get a glimpse of the yard from the street even if you do get inside a subdivision.

Grottos are the most common thing to find but since the Virgin Mary doesn't warrant a score, there is no point to report on these.

I finally found something to submit although I am not sure if it will pass your quality testing.

I found these along a road that I pass at least once a week but never noticed them until recently.  The perimeter wall is probably just 2 feet away from the road and I found these in the strip between.  The cut of land is larger than most.  There is a log blocking the steps leading to the main gate by which two mermaids and a tailless whale wait.  No body of water anywhere nearby.  The area where I found them is notorious for having water supply problems and maybe that is why they were banished?

Someone from the house saw my car and opened the gate.  It appeared she was going to approach me so I inched the car forward slowly and saw something else hidden amidst the plants.  I am not sure what it is.  A mutant flamingo?

Sorry for the picture quality, I just shot through my windshield.

While some people clip the wings of their parrots or ducks to keep them from flying away...
Others clip the tails off their mermaids to keep them in the garden

To make up for her lack of tail, Ariel likes to flip the family eel. She claims it builds  her torso. She also claims she is not on steroids.

and I'll just keep hiding here in the shrubbery

Score

• 2 mermaids missing most of their mer: 2 points
• Frighten eel (and that is saying something): 1 point
• Crane type bird: 1 point

Subtotal: 4 points


Creativity Bonus

For the muscle bond Ariel and her less than willing victims companions: 3 points

Total: 7 points

For losing your yard art virginity and being discovered by a homeowner

Bom, may your ball always been gilded